Meet changemakers just like you. Join Community Partnership.
18 Coffees Community Partnership is a pro bono professional network with progressive values. We offer a shared platform for people working at the intersection of business and social impact. Together, we make a bigger difference than we would alone, and we’re committed to supporting the causes, campaigns, and companies that inspire us.
Our members are called Community Partners — people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and experience levels who have applied to join our collective of progressive changemakers. We all have at least one thing in common: a commitment to making a positive difference in our world.
Why join our community?
Community Partnership is rooted in connection — our active network of relationships, referrals, and co-conspirators was built with you in mind. Connect through our engaged Slack channel, in-person & online events, and 18 Coffees projects focused on civic and social good.
TRAINING & CAREER DEVELOPMENT
All Community Partners have the option to participate in virtual workshops designed to fast track your professional growth, challenge you to think in new ways, and allow you to learn alongside professional peers outside of your current industry. You’ll explore topics like digital engagement, empathetic leadership, DEI leadership, and more.
NETWORKING & JOB REFERRALS
Plug into a diverse group of good troublemakers who are all making change in ways big and small. Our community offers a support network for professional and personal passion projects and introductions to colleagues at interesting companies. This people-centered approach is built on the one-on-one connections that are so pivotal when referring colleagues to open roles.
VIRTUAL & IRL PROGRAMMING
From our monthly Wake Up Wired series that explores technology, design, and social impact to virtual coffee meet-ups and in-person happy hours, we build space for you to plug in and connect with your fellow Community Partners digitally and in person.
COMMUNITY CHALLENGES
Utilize professional experiences and expand your skill set as you work with other Community Partners to design solutions to today’s problems through civic and social innovation projects.
Ready to become a Community Partner?
Member Events & Programming
Wake Up Wired
A series for exploring technology, design and social impact from different perspectives. Presented by 18 Coffees and powered by the insight, talent, experience and wit of our community, Wake Up Wired creates a space to tackle different topics each month through conversation, action, and of course, caffeine.
Past Wake Up Wired topics have included:
Connected Citizenship: How to Be More than a Voter
You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without U: Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Accessibility 101
Representation in Media: Why It Matters
Reclaiming Personal Power: A meditation workshop ahead of a stressful, divisive year
Community Challenges
18 Coffees matches organizations facing specific problems with teams of Community Partners who work together to form solutions.
18 Coffees x Vote.org
Collaborations with our 2020 civic partner, Vote.org, offered exclusive opportunities to work with integrated remote teams of Community Partners to support democracy during a divisive election year. To date, Community Partners have used their professional skills to develop Vote By Mail and #voteready toolkits, social campaigns, and influencer programs.
Additional Community Challenges include:
Designing for Political Impact with Musical Influencers
Creating a Design-For-Accessibility Toolkit
Measuring Impact with the Obama Foundation
Member Events
Remote Together
Working from home? Join us at local coffee shops to recreate the office environment with other Community Partners and the 18 Coffees team.
Community Dinners
These gatherings bring partners together to break bread with one another. These intimate events are how 18 Coffees got its start as a community, even before “Community Partnership” was a concept, and has remained a community favorite.
18 Coffees Happy Hours
Our happy hours hosted at local bars and restaurants unite Community Partners and friends over drinks and conversation.
Charitable Events
We love any opportunity to give back and host events like Bordering on Hilarious, a one-time special comedy event celebrating Chicago comedians from immigrant backgrounds to fundraise for the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.
Seasonal Outings
From neighborhood Friendsgivings to summer boat cruises and socially-distant drive-in movies, 18 Coffees Community Partnership is a way to make friends and get to know more like-minded peers in your city.
Ready to become a Community Partner?
Our Community Values
We believe change begins with us and our choices.
We believe in professional and personal integrity, and treating each other with mutual respect.
We believe in curiosity, continuous improvement, and never assuming we have everything figured out.
We believe in innovation that is a net benefit to equitable prosperity.
We believe there is strength and insight in diversity, but only if it is intentionally inclusive.
We believe in shared leadership and supporting one another as we grow.
Become a Community Partner
Apply to join an incredible network of professionals working together to do good. Participate in our events, grow your network, expand your skill set, and take your career to the next level.